Stan Miller is a nationally recognized estate planning attorney, entrepreneur, author, CEO of Pinnacle Legacy Law, and co-founder of the Legacy Leaders Network. Through his work in law, education, philanthropy, and global engagement, he has spent decades helping families build meaningful legacies across generations. Today, Miller brings that same legacy-minded approach to his role on the board for the Amos Institute for Medical Faculty Development (AIMFD), where he is helping support the next generation of physician-scientists and medical leaders.
“I realized in that moment, this is what I want to do,” Miller says, reflecting on his first estate planning meeting with a client. “I listened to her story. I heard the problems that she was laying out for me, the anxiety that she had, and I realized I knew the answer. So I sketched out the solution, and when the meeting was over, it was a pivotal moment for me.”
After practicing law for nearly a decade without a clear specialty, Miller chose to focus entirely on estate planning, eventually founding companies and educational platforms that helped transform the field. Over time, his work expanded beyond legal documents and financial assets into helping people intentionally shape the legacy they leave behind. He shares that while “legacy” for many people means the money, investments, and wealth they will eventually pass on, his work in estate planning goes far beyond finances alone.
“To me, estate planning is really about legacy planning,” Miller says. “It certainly includes questions like, ‘Who gets my financial assets when I pass?’ But I believe that when it’s properly done, estate planning is more than just that. It’s about preserving stories and life experiences to be shared with the people who matter most.”
Through his work with the Legacy Leaders Network, Miller encourages business leaders to think beyond financial wealth and focus on the legacy they hope to pass on to future generations. He further explores those ideas in his book, Your American Legacy, which emphasizes the importance of preserving family history, stories, and values alongside financial assets. That philosophy ultimately became the foundation for Miller’s connection to the Amos Institute.
“In 2024, I was invited to speak at an Amos conference in Denver through one of my connections at the Legacy Leaders Network,” he says. “Here I was, a lawyer in a room full of doctors and medical research scientists. It may have been the smartest group of people I’ve ever spent time with. It was truly amazing.”
What began as a speaking engagement soon evolved into a deeper relationship. When AIMFD established itself as an independent 501(c)(3) organization, Miller was asked to join the board. He was honored to unite with AIMFD in its work to create pathways for physician-scientists whose voices and perspectives might otherwise be excluded from leadership in medicine and research.
“We want to make sure that the people leading medical research come from all walks of life because those perspectives are critically important,” he says. “Every segment of our society deserves to be represented in that space. If Amos was not doing this work, entire communities and perspectives would be left out of the process, and the progress we’re able to make in medical research would ultimately be diminished.”
Today, Miller works alongside fellow AIMFD board members to help address critical funding challenges and explore new ways to support the broader Amos community. One emerging initiative focuses on expanding access to financial and estate planning education for scholars and alumni, helping them think intentionally about financial security and generational impact. For Miller, this work is another extension of legacy planning: helping families build long-term stability for future generations.
“We want to create the opportunity for Amos scholars and alumni to engage in the kind of estate and financial planning that many professionals in the field have historically not had access to,” Miller says. “Part of our mission is to help educate the broader Amos community on the importance of good financial planning so they’re able to create financial security for themselves and their families.”
As AIMFD continues to navigate a changing landscape for medical research funding, Miller says he is inspired by the organization’s determination to build a future rooted in empowerment, innovation, and long-term impact. He believes the work happening now will help ensure physician-scientists have the support and opportunities needed to lead, innovate, and shape the future of healthcare for generations to come.
“Amos is working to prove that we don’t have to be limited by changing government policies,” he says. “The strategic work we’re doing together is about empowering ourselves to design our own future. If we can get this right, we can continue to be a major player in the advancement of medical research. That sense of empowerment is incredibly motivating.”
We invite you to invest in the Amos Institute for Medical Faculty Development and the leaders who are expanding life expectancy, strengthening communities, and shaping health policy across the country. Support AIMFD by making a gift today.